Boiler cleaner



1933. N. L1. SNOW BOILER CLEANER Filed 001:. 50, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet lIN VEN TOR. Abe/m9 Z 54/0 ATTORNEY.

April 11,

N. 1... SNOW BOiLER CLEANER April 11, 1933.

Filed Oct. 50, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYJ N. L. SNOW BOILER CLEANER April 11, 1933.

Filed Oct. 30. 1924 3 Sheeis-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PAFTE A Non-MAN L. snow, orDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'ro DIAMOND? POWER srnomn'rx I v NIT"OFFICE,

CORPORATION, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A,CORPOBATION OF MICHIGAN BOILERCLEANER 'Applicationfiled October 30, 1924. Serial No. 746,904.

The invention relates to boiler cleaners and has among its objects toprovide an improved drive for soot blower elements or the like.

Referring to the drawings:

"'5 Figure 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional viewof a modified form of my invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4.4ofFigure3; I

Figure 5is a view showing one application of my drip collector to aboiler cleaner system,

and I p Figure 6 is a detail view of the drip cup.

In the drawings reference character 10 indicates a blower head havinggoose neck 11 for conveying cleaning fluid such as steam,

air, etc., from a source at 12 to the blower cleaner element 13 whichextends through wall box 14 projecting through the boiler setting orwall 15. The element 13.is of lesser diameter than that of wall box 14thus affording clearance between these parts as shown in Figure 1. Theelement 13 is adapted to project through wall 15 and is preferablyprovided with one or more nozzles (not shown) for directing the cleaningfluid to the boiler tubes and other parts of the boiler-to be cleaned inaccordance with the usual practice. I I

' The element 13 isconnected to the goose r neck 11 by a ball and socketconnection 16, 21. ring 17 secured by screws 18 being adapted to holdthe parts in proper relation. Element 13 is also provided with a squaredportion 19 adjacent a shoulder 20, the latter laterally 'ositioning agear'21 mounted by a forwardly ext-ending h'ub' portion 22 withinbearing 23 formed by the bracket 24. Gear 21 is also provided with anopening 25 shaped to cor respond with the portion 19 of element 13 butaffording a clearance 26 between the gear-21 andelement 13. p j a Ashaft 26-is supported at one end by the bracket 24 and at the otherendby a second bracket 27 A chain sheave 28 is rotatably mounted 011 theshaft 26 and keyed to a hub 29 of the sheave is a pinion 30 meshing withthe gear 21. j Y a,

In operation the chain sheave 28 is rotated or oscillated to causepinion 30 to rotate the gear 21. The latter drives the element 13 by 5reason of the squared portion 19 whereby the element 13 is rotated oroscillated during the cleaning period. The ball and socket joint at 16constitutes a support permittingffloating of theelement 13, the loosesquare drive from gear 21, with the clearance 26, permits ting movementof the element 13 without any tendency to displace gear 21 and pinion30. It is obvious that other forms of loose drives might be readilysubstituted forthc specific square-shape drive 19 as shown in Figure 1.For example, the surface 19 might assume the .shape of an polygon orother contour which would a orda drive with a clearance, such as at 26,for permitting rela tive movement between the element 13am]. gear21. W jI Referring-to Figures 3 and 4, I have shown a modification of myinvention in which the blower element 13 is supported as before bya 75ball and socket joint 16. However, instead of floating the blowerelement freely with re spect to the driving gear, as shown in Figure 1,in the constructionshown in Figure 3 the driving worm gear 21 and worm30 are floated with the blower element 13". :Shaft 26, which may bedrivenby achain sheave as before or other suitable means, is mounted inthe bearings 33 supported by bracket arms 34 terminating in bearingportions 35 and 36 85 loosely embracing the element 13 and hub '22respectively. For preventing a downward swinging of the bracket arms 34,pins 34' may be mounted on the bracket 27 thesepins projecting onopposite sides of the said bracket arms 34 as will be readily apparentby reference to Figures 3 and 4. Plate 37, carried by element 13 ismounted for sliding movement relative to .theboiler walland is adaptedto seal the opening between the element and the wall box 14. I 1 a Inoperation the shaft 26 is rotated 01'. oscillatedto act through worm 30and gear 21 upon-the element 13 for directing the "clean- I ing fluidtoward the parts of the boilergto be cleaned, as before. The blowerelement 13',

by reason of the ball and socket oint 16 and a unitthe. shaft 26, worm30', gear 21 and 46 will then drain through pipes47, 44, 42 and45. I

bracketarms 34.

A cup 31 (Figures 1 and 3) is preferably located below the joint betweenelement 13 and'its connection with the blower head 10 so as to catch anydrip of the'cleaning fluid which would otherwise fall upon theoperatorbelow. Where steam is employed as a cleaning fluid medium. adrain of this character is especially desirable. A pipe 32 serves toconduct the drainage or drip to any suitable point. p

Referring'to Figures 5 and 6, I have shown a modified form of a dripcollecting means. In these views .38 indicates a boiler having boilertubes 39 suitably located at various points for cleaning the boilertubes and other-parts of the boiler are the blower units A, B, C,- D andE preferably of the type employing a valve operated to admit cleaningfluid to the 'blower element simultaneously with the rotation of theblower'element by reason of the chains 40 acting on the sheaves 41, Theblower units {A, B, 'etc., are supplied with V cleaning fluid from amain supply pipe 42,.

past the main control valve 43, and thence to the branch pipes 44. Apipe collects and removes the drainage from the system and a manuallycontrolled valve45 is provided for controlling the discharge throughthis pipe.

Below each unit, as illustrated inconnection with the unit B, is a cupor receptacle 46 suitably positioned to catch the drip from the unit.The cup is connected by a pipe 47 preferably with a branch pipe 44 belowthe units, the passage between the cup 46 and pipe 47 being controlledby a ball 48 normally resting against the ball rest 49 when valve 43 isshut, allowing any drip collected in the 7 cup 46 to drain off throughpipe 47.

In operation when it is desired to cleanthej boiler the valve. 43 isopened to admit cleaning fluid into the branch pipes 44, the cleaningfluid also acting through pipe 47 to force ball 48 upwardly to preventescape of cleaning fluid by way of the pipe 47.

:' The blower unitsA, B, etc, are then operated to successively rotatetheir respective blower elements and unseat the valve controllingpassageof steam from the branch pipes 44 to the blower elements. Any dripescapingduring the blowing operation will be caught and collected in thecup 46. When the blowing operation is over, the valve 43 is shut offthus releasing'the pressure in pipe 47 thereby permitting ball 48-todrop to the ball rest 49. The drip accumulated in cup By the term rotateas used in the specification and claims I mean one or more partial orcomplete rotations of the parts designated or oscillationsof such parts.

The invention has, for the purpose ofcil lustration, been described as aboiler cleaner adapted to clean parts of a boiler. It will be apparent,however, that the invention will find equal utility in cleaning anysimilar apparatus and it is to be therefore understood that the termboiler wherever used in the driving worm meshing with the'gear, and 7means for mounting said cleaner element, worm and gear for floatingmovement with respect to the blower head.

2. In a boiler cleaner, a

blower head, a rotatable cleaner element, a gear mounted on the cleanerelement for rotating the same, a driving worm meshing with'the gear, aframe supporting the worm in relation to the gear and cleaner elementsaid cleaner element, frame, gear and worm being floated as a unit withrespect to the blower head. 7

3. In a boiler cleaner, a valve controlled supply pipe for cleaningfluid, a blower cleaner unit communicating with said supply pipe, a cuppositioned to catch the drip of cleaning fluid from said unit, a drainconnection from said cup to said supply pipe, means for drain- 7 ingsaid supply pipe, and means for auto= matically closing thesaid'connection when the valve is opened in the supply pipe.

4.-In 'a boiler cleaner,'a'valve controlled supply pipe for cleaningfluid, a blower cleaner unit communicating with said supply pipe, a cuppositioned to catch the drip of cleaning fluid from said unit, a .drainconnection from said cup to said supply pipe, means for drainingsaidsupply pipe, and means for automatically closing the said connectionwhen the valve is'opened in the supply pipe,

fluid in the said supboiler'cleaner, a blowerhead, a

said means including a valve operable by the i I said cleaner element,the said cleaner element, a

bracket, and cleaner element rotating means being floated as a unit withrespect to'the blower head. V

6. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a rotatable cleaner element, abifurcated bracket 1 loosely mounted on the said'clean'erelement, a Wormcarried by the said bracket, and a gear carried by'the said cleanerelement and arranged between the furcations of the said bracket forengagement with the said worm, the said bracket, gear, worm and cleanerelement all being floated as a unit with respect to the blower head. a vy 7. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a boiler wall, a blowerhead, and a rotatable cleaner element journaled in said blower head andprojecting through said wall for discharging jets of cleaning fluidadjacent por loosely embracing said blower element, said blower elementbeing movable relative to said driving member in a direction to providefor said universal movement.

9. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a cleaner element having one endjournaled in said head for substantially universal movement relativethereto, and a driving member carried by said head, said driving memberbeing provided with an opening loosely but non-rotatably receiving saidcleaner element whereby rotation of said driving member efl'ects arotation of said cleaner element and said universal movement is providedfor.

10. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a cleaner element rotatablyjournaled in said head for substantially universal movement relativethereto, said cleaner element having a portion of its outer periphery ofangular cross sectional shape, and a driving'member carried by saidblower head having an opening of angular cross sectional shape forloosely receiving the said portion of the blower element to provide forlateral movement of said cleaner element relative to said driving memberwhile providing for rotation of said cleaner element by said drivingmember.

11. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a cleaner element rotatablyjournaled in said head for substantially universal movement relativethereto, said cleaner element having a portion of its outer periphery ofsubstantially square cross sectional shape, a bracket carried by saidhead, and adriving member journaled in said bracket and having asubstantially square opening for loosely receiving the square portion ofsaid cleanerelement. I

12. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower head locatedexteriorly of the boiler setting, a cleaning fluid supply pipe for saidblower head, a drain pipe for said supply pipe, and a blowerelementprojecting through said boiler setting and journaled in saidheadfor receiving cleaning fluid therefrom, of means located 'exteriorly ofsaid head for collecting the'cleaning fluid escaping past themovingparts of said head and for conducting the same to'said drain pipe.

13. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower headlocatedexteriorlypof the boiler setting, a cleaning fluid supply pipe for saidhead, a drain pipe for said supply pipe, Y

and a blower element projecting through said boiler setting and ournaled1n said head for receiving cleaning fluid therefrom, of areceptaclelocated exteriorly of said head for collecting the cleaning fluidescaping pastthe moving parts of said head, and means for conducting theescaped cleaning fluid from said receptacle to-the said drain pipe." r l14. In a boiler cleaner, a blower headga cleaner element having one endconnected to. said head for universal movement with respect thereto, abracket supported by the blower head, a member having a bearing in saidbracket for rotating said cleaner ele ment, said member being normallyaxially aligned with the axis of the cleaner element, and a loosedriving connection between said member and said cleaner elementproviding for relative displacement of the axes of said member andcleaner element.

15. In a boiler cleaner, a blower head, a cleaner element having one endconnected to said head for universal movement with respect thereto, abracket supported by the blower head, a member having a bearing in saidbracket for rotating said cleaner element, said member being normallyaxially aligned with the axis of the cleaner element, a loose drivingconnectionbetween said member and said cleaner element providing forrelative displacement of the axes of said member and saidcleanerelement, a shaft carried by the blower head, means for rotating saidshaft, and means for transmitting the movement of the shaft to the saidmember for rotating the latter.

16. In a boiler cleaner system, a pair of blower units, a combinedcleaning fluid supply and drain pipe for both of said units, a rotatablecleaner element carried by each unit, a cup positionedto catch the dripof cleaning fluid e'scapingfrom one of said units, a connection betweensaid cup and said cleaning fluid supply and drain pipe, and a valve insaid connection operable to prevent the escape of cleaning fluid fromsaid connection when cleaning fluid is flowing.

through said supply and drain pipe and to provide for draining the dripfrom thecup through the said connection when theflow of cleaning fluidthrough the supply and drain pipe is cut ofl.

17. In a boiler cleaner system, a combined supply and drain pipe forcleaning fluid, a

valve controlling the admission of cleaning 1 fluid to said pipe aplurality of blower cleaner units communicating with said pipe, a cuppositioned to catch the drip of cleaning fluid from one of said units, adrain connection from said cup to's'aid pipe, and means forautomatically closing the said connection when the valve, is opened tothe pipe.

18. In a boiler cleaner, a comblned clean- 7 ing fluid supply and drainpipe, a blower unit communicating with said pipe, a cup positioned tocatch the drip of cleaning fluid from said unit, a connection betweensaid cupand said pipe, and a valve in said connection operating toprevent the escape of cleaning fluid from said connection .when theblower unit is in operation and to permit draining the drip from the cupthrough-the said connection when the blower unit is inoperative. 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' NORMAN L. SNOW.

